Not in Lee Rigby's name: Family protest about right-wing advert for London mayor

The family of Fusilier Lee Rigby have distanced themselves from an election broadcast by the right-wing Britain First party which is expected to refer to his murder.

In a statement, Fusilier Rigby's mother Lyn said that her son, who was killed by Islamist extremists in 2013, did not believe in Britain First's views and the family had repeatedly asked them not to use his name to promote their cause.

The broadcast in support of Britain First's candidate for London mayor Paul Golding was being shown on BBC and ITV on the evening of April 20.

The Rigby family statement said: "We understand that Britain First are planning to refer to Lee's death in a party political broadcast to be broadcast tonight on the BBC and ITV and that they filmed close to where he died.

"The family have always said that Britain First's views are not what Lee believed in and they have absolutely no support from his family. We have repeatedly asked Britain First and other political parties not to use Lee's name to promote their views.

"Britain First also claim that there is no permanent memorial to Lee at the site of his death. There is a permanent memorial to Lee at St George's Chapel in Woolwich, which is what we wanted."

Britain First's website said the party had faced "quite a struggle" in getting its broadcast cleared for transmission, blaming "Soviet commissars" at the BBC and ITV for asking for changes before accepting a "heavily santised version".

Fusilier Rigby was stabbed to death at the age of 25 in an attack while off duty near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south London. His murderers Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were sentenced to life imprisonment.

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